Marker



April 12, 1949. A. J. FRANCIS, .JR

MARKER Filed May 2, 1945 Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE MARKER Application May 2, 1945, Serial No. 591,535

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric marker and has for one object toprovide a marker and a mechanism for operating it by means of which themarker is given a large number of rapid strokes, so that it may :be usedas a marking, cutting or other tool.

In the particular form here shown the invention is embodied in anelectrical marker which includes magnetic means cooperating withmechanical means for -causing reciprocation of a tool carrying member.An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a combination ofelectrical and mechanical means for accomplishing the results stated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for utilizingalternating current in an eiiicient and effective manner to provide theelectrical phase of the total operation.

Another object is to provide an electrical circuit which mayadvantageously be used in connection with and for the purposes stated.

Other objects Iwill appear from time to time throughout thespeciiication and claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end view of the device, taken generally from the left endof the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section with parts in elevation, taken atline 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a partial section with parts in elevation, taken generallyat right angles to the plane of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the switch, taken at line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand the drawings.

While almost any form of housing or casing may be used, the oneillustrated herewith is a convenient form and comprises generally twohalves I and 2. It is convenient to form them so that they interlock andso that a fastening means may readily engage both of them. Thus, asshown, the half l is provided with a raised edge Ia, and the half 2 hasa raised edge 2a. Adjacent each raised edge is a cut-away lportion, sothat when the parts are assembled together they interlock, as shownparticularly in dotted lines in Figure 1. At that end they may beconveniently joined by a staple-like member 3 which passes through bothcasing members. The casing members are irregularly shaped, as shown, to

form adjacent one end an enlargement suitable for enclosing the magnets,and they are reduced adjacent the other end and may be held together bya band 4. A pair of spacing and sup porting rings 5 and 6 are positionedwithin the reduced portion, as shown particularly in Figure 2, and atube or barrel 'I is fixed in these rings.

A connector member 8 is fixedly supported upon the tube l. From thismember are supported hollow coils 9, 9, and from this member are alsosupported U-shaped laminations I0.

Another set of U-shaped laminatons II is secured to a yoke member I2,which is itself iastened to a shaft I3. This shaft is free to slidewithin the tube l and the other parts which will be described below. Acollar I4 is fixed on the shaft I3. An adjusting nut I5 is threaded intoengagement with the tube 1 and may be provided with an enlarged knurledor otherwise roughened portion I6.

A spring I'I is positioned about the rod I3 and bears at one end againstthe collar or shoulder I4 and at the other end against the adjusting nutI5. The rod I3 is threaded at its lower end, as at I8, and engages achuck collet I9, which at one end forms a shoulder 20 in opposition tothe corresponding shoulder 2I formed in the adjusting nut I5, as shownparticularly in Figure 2. Threaded upon the chuck collet is a chuckshell 23. By means of relative adjustment of the chuck collet and thechuck shell a Iwriting tip or marking point member 24 may be removablyand adjustably vpositioned in the collet. Positioned about the exteriorof the tube 1 and bearing at one end upon the collar or stop 6 and atthe other end upon the shoulder 25 formed on the exterior of theadjusting screw I5 is a spring 26. The purpose of this spring is to holdthe adjusting screw in adjusted position and to prevent its displacementfrom that position, once it has been adjusted.

Current for energizing the coils 9 is conducted to them by wires 2'Iwhich pass through the housing, through any appropriate opening whichmay be surrounded by a grommet 28. The coil circuit includes wires orconnectors 29 and 30 which are led to the switch enclosed in the housing3| from which a handle or operating means 32 projects. As shown inFigure 5, the connector 29 is joined to a contact 33 within the switchhousing and the connector 30 is joined to a contact 34 within thehousing. The switch handle or lever 32 has fixed on it the operatingpins 35 and 36, and these, when moved in one position, actuate themember 31 to bring it in contact with the two .3 contacts 33 and 34.When in another position, not shown, the member 31 remains out ofcontact with the contacts and the circuit is not closed.

As shown in Figure 3, name or marking plates 38 may be inserted in thehousing.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention, it will berecognized that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of partscan be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and myshowing is therefore to be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

The marker of this invention is intended to be used with alternatingcurrent. When a suitable marking point or writing tip 24 has been put inplace, the wires 2l are connected with the source of current and theswitch is operated to complete the circuit and the coils 'are energized.The pull developed by the coils as the alternating current grows tomaximum value draws the upper set of laminations I l down toward the xedlaminati-ons I0, closing the gap which appears between them in Figure 2.When this occurs, the spring I1 is somewhat compressed, and the rod I3is moved downwardly, carrying with it the point 24. After the peak ofthe half wave of the current is reached, the current begins to decreaseto zero and the pull on the movably mounted laminations III is reduced.The spring I'I' is then free to expand and in doing so it carries therod I3 and the laminations Ii and the point 24 upwardly, that is to say,it withdraws the point somewhat into the housing, and the laminations IIare restored tothe position indicated in dotted lines in Figure y2, inwhich there is an air gap between the laminations ylli and thelamin'ations I I.

With an ordinary 60-cycle circuit, there would be 7,200 strokes perminute, so long as the switch is in position to vcomplete the circuitand to cause the magnets to be energized. A fluctuation of the currentwithin the magnets is dependent, of course, upon the aiternations of'the current, and by this means a rapid and strong reciprocation of theshaft I3 and of the point 24 'isaccomplished The length of the stroke isadjusted by rotating the `member I6, which moves it longitudinally withrespect to the tube fI. To accomplish adjustment of the stroke, themember IE is turned, for example, clockwise, which increases thepressure on the spring Il, thus holding the gap between the two sets oflamin'ation's open yfor va greater distance. vThe spring 26 serves toprevent acci*- de'ntal or undesired movement `'of lthe adjusting nut I6.The 'chuck assembly is supported in the longitudinally extended portionvof the housing,

4 where the two are in contact over an extended area, as shown generallyat the right end of Figure 2.

The wires or cords 21 which come out of the handle have been placed halfway down the casing deliberately. It has been found in the past thatwhere the cord was brought out to the end of the casing, it presents acertain drag in use. Where it is `brought out at the point indicatedherewith, it conveniently fits under the users hand, which willgenerally be engaged about the reduced portion of the housing and offersno resistance to the free movement of the tool.

I claim:

yl. In combination in an electrical marker, a housing, a barrel xedtherein, a pair of solenoids fixed with relation to said barrel, fixedarmatures within said solenoids, a reciprocating shaft mounted withinsaid barrel, a U shaped member secured to said `shaft and extended intosaid solenoids toward said member, spring means tending to move saidshaft in one direction, said solenoids when energized tending to movesaid shaft in an opposite direction, a collet fixed to said shaft, amarking pointer secured in said collet, and conductors for supplyingcurrent to said solenoid to energize it.

2. In combination in an electrical marker, a barrel, 'a plurality ofsolenoids ixed with vrelation to said barrel, a plurality of xedarmatures within said solenoids, 'a reciprocating shaft mounted `withinsaid barrel, `a U shaped member secured to said shaft and extended yintosaid solenoids toward said fixed armatures, spring means tending to movesaid shaft in one direction, said solenoids when energized tending tomove said shaft in an opposite direction, a collet xed to said shaft, a`marking pointer secured in said collet, conductors for supplyingcurrent to said solenoids to energize them, and a switch 'forinterrupting and completing the circuit to said solenoids.

ANDREW J. FRANCIS, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are lof record 'in the file ofthis patent:

